Burgaw attorney enters pleas to embezzlement

BURGAW, NC (AP) — A disbarred Pender County attorney has pleaded to embezzlement and other charges.

Kevin Strickland reached an agreement with prosecutors in Burgaw on Monday on five counts of embezzlement, three counts of obtaining money under false pretenses, one count of burning a building and one count of forgery.

Strickland entered an Alford plea, which does not admit guilt but acknowledges there is enough evidence for a conviction.

Prosecutors have agreed to ask for a prison term of between seven and 10 years in prison when he is sentenced next month.

Strickland was arrested in 2010 and charged with financial crimes as well as an allegation he set fire to his Burgaw law office. He had been disbarred in 2008 after allegations he misappropriated more than $1.6 million from real estate deals.

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